Concomitant radiotherapy and hyperthermia for primary carcinoma of the vagina: a cohort study

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the supplementary value of adding hyperthermia to radiotherapy in patients with primary vaginal cancer. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort of 44 patients diagnosed with primary vaginal cancer between 1990 and 2002 was assessed. Survival rates and median survival of patients with primary vaginal cancer undergoing radiotherapy with and without hyperthermia were compared. Hyperthermia was solely added to radiotherapy in case of a tumor size >4 cm in diameter for FIGO stage III disease. RESULTS: The calculated overall 5-year survival of primary vaginal cancer was 63%. In comparison to histologic high grade tumors, higher survival rates for histologic low grade tumors were calculated. For FIGO stage III of disease, the addition of hyperthermia to radiotherapy for tumors >4 cm in diameter resulted similar survival rates and median survival when compared to those achieved by radiotherapy as monotherapy in tumors of <4 cm in diameter. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of hyperthermia to radiotherapy might result in better survival rates in primary vaginal cancer for tumors >4 cm in diameter. The supplementary effect of hyperthermia to radiotherapy may be a feasible and beneficial approach in the treatment of vaginal cancer.     

Leiomyomatosis peritonealis disseminata presenting with intravascular extension and coexisting with endometriosis: a case report

BACKGROUND: Leiomyomatosis peritonealis disseminata is a benign disease of women of reproductive age. Female gonadal steroids play the major role in pathogenesis, but reported cases in postmenopausal women suggests other factors. A few cases in the literature with coexisting endometriosis confirm the hypothesis that both originate in submesothelial multipotential mesenchymal cells. The clinical behavior can be life threatening due to extension through the pelvic veins. CASE: A 46-year-old woman with endometriosis diagnosed at laparotomy 3 years earlier presented with a huge pelvic mass. Postoperative histologic examination of the peritoneal nodules confirmed the diagnosis. Magnetic resonance angiography performed postoperatively revealed intravenous leiomyomatosis. Surgical castration was satisfactory after 2 years of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Although malignant transformation of the disease is known, intravascular extension of the tumor increases the risk of mortality. Close follow-up by clinical examination and radiologic evaluations is required.     

Knowledge,Practices and Use of Contact Lenses Among University Students in Turkey

AimThis study was conducted to determine the prevalence of contact lens (CL) use among university students, their awareness on CL, and CL users'' practices for the cleaning and care of CLs.MethodsThe data of this cross-sectional study were collected between April 2019 and July 2019. The sample consisted of university students who volunteered to participate in the study. The data obtained from the study were evaluated by Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) 22.0 package program in computer environment.Results929 students participated in the study and the average age of them was 21.99±1.85 years (Min. 18 – Max. 24), and it was determined that 36.6% (n=340) of the participants were male, 10.2% (n=95) of the total were using CL, 91.6% (n=87) of them used CL due to visual impairment. When students'' levels of knowledge about the hygiene and care in CL use were examined 85.4% (n=82) washed their hands before wearing/removing CL, 85.3% (n=81) cleaned the lens container and filled it with new solution when the solution in the container was reduced, 18.5% (n=17) continued wearing CL while sleeping, 6.5% (n=6) washed CL with tap water, and 28.3% (n=26) of them stated that they swam in the sea with CL. It was determined that the prevalence of CL use was higher (p= .045) among smoking students.ConclusionHealth professionals are important in the trainings to be given to increase the students'' knowledge of hygiene and care regarding the use of CL. More studies are needed on the effect of smoking status on CL use.     

In vivo assessment of antidiabetic and antioxidant activities of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) in alloxan-diabetic rabbits

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), used in traditional Turkish folk medicine for the treatment of hyperglycaemia, is widely accepted as one of the medicinal herb with the highest antioxidant activity. Accordingly, the present study was designed to investigate the possible actions of ethanolic extract of the leaves of Rosmarinus officinalis on glucose homeostasis and antioxidant defense in rabbits. In the first set of experiments, hypoglycaemic effects of oral administration of various doses (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) of the extract were examined in normoglycaemic and glucose-hyperglycaemic rabbits. Optimal effect was observed in both of the animal groups with a dose of 200 mg/kg of the extract and this activity was independent from the effects of insulin. In another part of experiments, acute effect of various doses of the Rosmarinus officinalis extract on blood glucose and serum insulin levels was studied in alloxan-induced diabetic rabbits. Of the three doses of extract, the highest dose (200 mg/kg) significantly lowered blood glucose level and increased serum insulin concentration in alloxan-diabetic rabbits. The last set of experiments designed to investigate the subacute effect of the Rosmarinus officinalis extract on repeated administration in alloxan-diabetic rabbits. At the doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg, antihyperglycaemic effect of extract was accompanied by a significant increase in serum insulin levels in diabetic rabbits. Furthermore, during 1 week of treatment of diabetic rabbits with a dose of 200 mg/kg of the extract showed that the extract possessed a capability to inhibit the lipid peroxidation and activate the antioxidant enzymes. It was concluded that probably, due to its potent antioxidant properties, the Rosmarinus officinalis extract exerts remarkable antidiabetogenic effect.     

CYP1A1 gene polymorphism and polycystic ovary syndrome

The aim of this study was to assess the rates of variant alleles of cytochrome P4501A1 (CYP1A1) in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). It was designed as a case-control study in Hacettepe University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Genetics. Forty-eight patients with PCOS served as the study group. Ninety-six regularly cycling women with no clinical and biochemical evidence of hyperandrogenism and polycystic ovary appearance served as the controls. The CYP1A1 variant alleles of all patients were determined via polymerase chain reaction. The rate of the CYP1A1 isoleucine (Ile)/valine (Val) allele was significantly higher in patients with PCOS than in the controls (OR: 7.8, 95% CI: 3.45-17.52, P < 0.001). However, there was no statistically significant difference in the distribution of Val/Val genotype (OR: 4.0, 95% CI: 0.60-26.73). The rate of any Val genotype (Ile/Val or Val/Val) was significantly higher in patients with PCOS compared with the control group (OR: 7.4, 95% CI: 3.33-16.46, P < 0.001). In conclusion, the patients with PCOS had a 7.8-fold higher frequency of CYP1A1 Ile/Val genotype and a 7.4-fold higher frequency of CYP1A1 of any Val genotype (Ile/Val or Val/Val).     

Identification of antigenic epitopes on the foot and mouth disease virus isolate O1/Manisa/Turkey/69 using monoclonal antibodies

A panel of mouse monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) was produced against a strain of type O foot and mouth disease virus (FMDV) from the Middle East, O1/Manisa/Turkey/69. Seven neutralising MAbs were fully characterised and all were found to react with conformational epitopes. Monoclonal antibody neutralisation-resistant mutants (MARMs) were generated from the parental virus stock and the complete capsid sequences of these MARMs were determined. Sequence analysis revealed that five of the MARMs had amino acid substitutions at either residue 72 or 73 of VP2 (beta B-beta C loop), indicating that five of the MAbs were directed against antigenic site 2. The sixth MARM contained a single amino acid substitution at position 198 of VP1 (carboxy-terminal region). The seventh MARM contained two amino acid substitutions, at position 72 of VP2 and position 149 of VP1 (beta G-beta H loop). These findings indicate that MAbs directed against a type O FMDV from the Middle East recognise residues in the same structural features to those raised against strains from Europe of the same serotype.